Balance of Power: Kim’s Nuclear Wedge Between Allies
Balance of Power: Kim’s Nuclear Wedge Between Allies
(Bloomberg) -- U.S. President Donald Trump took Beijing to task (again) after North Korea’s sixth and most powerful nuclear detonation. But it was his criticism of a key ally that got all the attention.
Trump’s charge that South Korea is seeking to appease Kim Jong Un drew an immediate rebuttal from President Moon Jae-in, who favors talks. What’s more, Moon has said, any strike on North Korea should be his decision, not Trump’s.
A test of world unity will come this morning when the United Nations Security Council meets.
While the U.S. wants China and Russia to cut off oil sales to North Korea, China may only back a partial ban for fear of triggering regime collapse (and the chaos that would ensue) in Pyongyang. Beijing described Trump’s threat to cut off all trade with nations that do business with North Korea as unfair.
In the long-run, though, it’s Trump’s differences with Moon that may prove to be the biggest issue. Not only is the discord playing into North Korea’s hands, it’s got some worried Seoul may soon be tempted to seek its own nuclear weapons.
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--With assistance from Kathleen Hunter
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Caroline Alexander at calexander1@bloomberg.net, Andrew J Barden